“The issuance of warrants for the arrest of the head of the Army (Major General Solly Shoke), head of the Air Force (Lieutenant General. Zakes Msimang) and the Secretary of Defense (Dr. Sam Gulube) is a disgrace to the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). This is a poor example of discipline and creates the impression that the officers themselves as above the law, “says dr. Pieter Groenewald, chief spokesperson on Defence for the Freedom Front Plus.
“The fact that the court, on 30 May this year, gave an order that would give heed to an order of 10 September last year, and now again had to issue an order of arrest is evidence that these officers are disrespectful towards the law and the court. The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Ms. Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, should immediately suspend these officers and a proper inquiry into their behavior.
Should the defense of the officers show that the administration in the army abandoned them, then it proves that the military function unprofessional and clearly than people in jobs who are incapacitated for. This embarrassment is actually an embarrassment to the whole of South Africa and violate the image of the army also internationally, “Groenewald said.
Afrikaans Version
“Die uitreiking van lasbriewe vir die arrestasie van die hoof van die weermag (genl. Solly Shoke), hoof van die lugmag (lt.genl. Zakes Msimang) en die sekretaris van verdediging (dr. Sam Gulube) is ‘n skande vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Weermag (SANW). Dit is ‘n swak voorbeeld van dissipline en skep die indruk dat hierdie offisiere hulleself as verhewe bo die reg beskou,” sê dr. Pieter Groenewald, hoofwoordvoerder van Verdediging vir die Vryheidsfront Plus.
“Die feit dat die hof reeds op 30 Mei vanjaar ‘n bevel moes gee om gehoor te gee aan ‘n hofbevel van 10 September verlede jaar, en nou weer ‘n bevel moes uitreik vir arrestasie, is bewys dat hierdie offisiere minagtend is teenoor die reg en die hof. Die minister van Verdediging en Militêre Veterane, me. Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, moet dadelik hierdie offisiere skors en ‘n behoorlike ondersoek gelas na hulle gedrag.
Sou die verweer van die offisiere wees dat die administrasie in die weermag hulle in die steek gelaat het, dan is dit bewys dat die weermag onprofessioneel funksioneer en duidelik dan mense in poste het wat onbevoeg is daarvoor. Hierdie verleentheid is eintlik ‘n verleentheid vir die hele Suid-Afrika en skend die beeld van die weermag ook internasionaal,” het Groenewald gesê.
